West Monroe stadium makes progress

Construction progress being made on the new home side for West Monroe High School’s Don Shows Field at Rebel Stadium. The new parking lot on the west side opened recently and the stands have made strides in recent weeks.(Photo: Cody Futrell/The News-Star)Buy Photo

The West Monroe High School football stadium expansion has seen a lot of progress in recent weeks yet school officials are not speculating on a completion date.

Speaking to The News-Star on Tuesday, West Monroe principal Shelby Ainsworth said the stadium construction of a new home side for Don Shows Field at Rebel Stadium was making progress yet he was not ready to speculate on a completion date.

“The company that was brought in to construct the bleachers are basically finished,” Ainsworth said. “As many people can see, the press box that they started on about two weeks ago, there is a lot of work left there and with the restrooms and concession stand with the concrete foundation under there. Naturally there is work to do for the elevator to be ready. So, even though the bleachers look like it is ready to be inhabited, there is a lot of work left to do.”

The project, which began in the spring, was greatly slowed by heavy rains and flooding that continued to push back the completion date that could last the length of the regular season and beyond.

Likewise, football coach and athletic director Jerry Arledge said he has not been given a timetable for the opening of the new stands as the Rebels prepare to host there second of four straight home games this Friday at 7 p.m. against Ridgeway High School of Memphis, Tennessee.

“They are working on it,” Arledge said. “I don’t know of a date.”

One part of the project, a new parking lot behind the west side bleachers, has been completed and was in use for the first time last Friday when West Monroe hosted Franklinton.

“It was very helpful, and I thought a smooth transition to the new parking lot,” Ainsworth said. “I think it is great for the community to be able to use it. I think it is going to be a place where people feel secure – and not just before the game – but after game as well.”